Word thinks I've changed Normal.dot--but I haven't....

[Jeff Turner]

I configured Word 2002 under Tools/options to prompt me to save
changes to the normal template instead of saving them automatically.
However, Word now asks if I want to save changes every time I exit the
program. Since I know I haven't made any changes, something else must
be causing this behavior. Is it an incompatibility with another
program, a corrupt registry, a virus or other malicious bit of code,
or what? Reinstalling Word did not solve the problem. Any assistance
will be greatly appreciated! I really want to customize my toolbar,
but I can't since I don't know what other changes I'd be saving along
with the ones I want to make.

 

[Howard Kaikow]

That's a common problem likely being caused by a badly written 3rd party
add-on or macro.

Registry is not a factor.

Could be, but unlikely, a virus.

Re-installing Word is not a factor.

Determining which add-in/macro is causing this can be difficult.
Culprits include OmniPage Pro Office, Acrobat, etc.

The way to minimize this annoyance is to do the following:

1. Re-organize your templates so that little is saved in Normal, with the
bulk saved in application specific templates. Put most macros and
menu/toolbar customizations in global templates in Word's Startup directory
and in application specific templates.

2. Put the following statement in AutoClose and AutoExit macros in
Normal.dot.

3. Make Normal.dot read-only. Remove this property ONLY when YOU need to
explicitly change the Normal template.

The above will reduce, but not eliminate, he messages about Normal.dot.

For an example of the kind of crap in 3rd party apps see my 2 September
posting "Something is opening Normal.dot" in
microsoft.public.word.vba.general.

 

[Jeff Turner]

2. Put the following statement in AutoClose and AutoExit macros in
Normal.dot.

And the statement is?

Thanks for your good tips thus far. Of the programs you mentioned, I
have Acrobat Reader (who doesn't?), so it must be the culprit. Any
further tips specific to it?

Thanks again!
Jeff

 

[Howard Kaikow]

2. Put the following statement in AutoClose and AutoExit macros in
Normal.dot.

I forgot the statement.

NormalTemplate.Saved = True

 

[Howard Kaikow]

"Howard Kaikow" <[email protected]> wrote in message

And the statement is?

NormalTemplate.Saved = True

This prevents changes to the Normal template, under most circumstances.

Thanks for your good tips thus far. Of the programs you mentioned, I
have Acrobat Reader (who doesn't?), so it must be the culprit. Any
further tips specific to it?

See http://www.standards.com/OhMyWord/VBABugsFeatures.html#PDFMaker